Resident Evil 4 Revisited: Wii Review
It’s been a little over 2 years since we first played Resident Evil 4 on Nintendo’s Game Cube. The title was considered by many as the single best reason to own a Cube for hardcore players. The sound, images and gameplay made for a deeply engauging experience into the Survival Horror genre and the re-release of the title for Nintendo’s next-gen Wii console only improves on its success. As Capcom celebrates their millionth unit mark, we though we’d bring the game’s review back, adding in a few new comments as it relates to the Wii release:
Ever since Adventure for the Atari 2600, game developers have been trying to recreate the scary-movie experience, only with the player in control. We’ve come a loooong way since Adventure. Now we’ve got 3D, surround sound and more blood than the set of the next Nightmare on Elmstreet Saw movie. Best in show goes to the Resident Evil series of horror survival games, beginning with the original Playstation title that may as well have launched the genre. Several sequels have followed, mostly to warm receptions. Consider that all changed with the release of Resident Evil 4 for, of all systems, the GameCube Wii, known more for its family friendly party games and platformers, than bloody mature rated zombie-fests.
You play Leon, a special forces operative, originally assigned on your first day in Raccoon City, the ill-fated city to which the T-virus was released, turning its citizens into blood thirsty zombies. Since the fiasco back home, you’ve been reassigned to retrieve the president’s daughter who’s recently been kidnapped by some mysterious cult south of the border. You and a few locals hired to lead you into the village suspected of harboring the girl, ride in only to discover that the villagers aren’t quite human and aren’t quite zombie. They communicate with each other, brandish weapons and (gasp) run at you. It doesn’t take long to discover there’s some seriously weird shtick going on and this village is clearly more than it seems.
Much maligned since the Resident Evil franchise began was the clunky controls and odd camera issues. Despite the quality of the games, players struggled with running toward and away from the camera in predominantly static environments. No longer. RE4 puts the camera over the shoulder of Leon and travels with him, not despite of him, throughout each level, more like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. This makes gameplay less about frustration and more about exploration. Controls are responsive though turning around can be a bit slow. The game offers a quick 180 degree flip, but it can be overkill in many situations. A laser targeting site has been added to each gun to make aiming a precise endeavor since enemy damage will be based on locale (hint: shoot for the head). Now, with the Wiimote and Nunchuck solidly in-hand, your aim is as true as it will ever be. Zero in with your pistol by doing what comes naturally: pointing at the screen. Movement is handled by the thumbstick on the Nunchuck, but the dirty work is done with your trigger finger, the way it should be. The laser site has been replaced by a targeting reticle, providing the intuitive game control you would expect from any modern arcade shooter.
As with previous RE games, the creatures that do their shuffling, leaping and skittering towards you are ones out of the nightmares of Wes Craven or Tim Burton. Twisted figures with exposed inner organs and more blood than a Los Angeles street gang convention. Most in some way resemble human forms, due to being mutated by a virus of sorts.
Along with the primary story are mini-games that help hone your firing skills. Though not a requirement for advancing, the shooting gallery games open collectible items for your inventory that really do nothing more than look and sound pretty. They can’t be sold or combined with other items to help you advance.
Gameplay features and bonus content previously exclusive to the Playstation 2 versions of the game have now been included. Small enhancements, like hearing your gun load or your knife slashing from the speaker in the Wiimote and a completely new level of depth completely unavailable in any other version.
In the end, Resident Evil 4 is vastly superior to its predecessors in control, sound and makes excellent use of the GameCube Wii video engine to ensnare players to the final zombie decapitation. Still not convinced? Even if you already own this title for another system, the price tag is half what you would expect for a brand new title. It’s really not a difficult choice. Though not for the faint of heart, RE:4 goes out fully recommended by our staff.
